Galen Leather Notebooks review A5 and B6

[@Andidejager.]

Ah, I personally ADORE that it’s blank because I find lines, graph and dot grid to be super ugly and because I do a lot of drawing and painting in my journals, I’d find any markings extremely distracting. And it’s especially nice because the paper is so thin so that I can use the guide sheets and still write straight without having permanent lines!😍 that being said, I do agree that it would be nice for people to have the option to choose if they want lines or dot grid or graph or blank. Though that might drive the price of the marked ones up, I’m not sure 🤔 You also make a very good point about the packaging. I’m sure putting peoples orders in a plain cardboard box for shipping would be more cost effective than the super fancy custom packaging on every single item and so many extra goodies. Last time I ordered a few notebooks; I ended up with like 4 evil eye charms and I don’t need that many. It seems like it doesn’t benefit anyone because it probably makes the items more expensive for the customer and it’s more effort and cost on Galen Leathers part to make all those charms!🙈 so definitely would be nice to be able to opt out if you want!

[@JanneA]

The green one is actually the smaller A6 - not a B6. As can be seen in the printing on the back. The actual B6 size is really nice.

[@debbieannrodriguez2181]

Yeah this is what I noticed too. It's too small to be a B6 especially when she put it beside the A5 for comparison. 😅

[@muallaemine]

Hey Kerry! Recent subscriber here.. I love your videos and your positive tone. Just fyi: the green notebook you have is an A6 not a B6. İf you put it sideways on top of your A5, you’ll see that it is half its size and that’s the sizing of an A6. Besides I have the B6 crazy horse brown; and your’s is not it.. otherwise great video! And I totally agree on the ruling issue. I’m not fussy about lines or dots or grids though. Just as long as I get rid of the guidelines I’m fine. Still not a deal breaker obviously. I recently ordered the other sizes as well 😁. And by the way you can use the scrap leather piece under the side that you are writing for softer writing surface as well; especially at the beginning or the end of the notebook. İt actually works better if you are drawing/doodling a lot; but it’s still good for writing as well

[@Katiplans]

Hah, I’m not the only one here behind the screen being 100 percent sure that it’s an A6 - not B6 :D

[@RBartsy]

Hahaha-the big divide … I detest lined paper! Blank or dot is Ok. I would use graph if the lines are pale but little dots are better. Hmmm, yummy on using warm brown inks on tomoe and writing on both sides is better with brown ink. I find black ink on both sides is distracting trying to read over. Love the green leather!

[@Lolimiggi]

I think they’ve done well to try include all preferences by having blank as the staple with the ability to have the templates behind. You can’t really take lines or dots away if that isn’t someone’s preference 😊 and if it’s something they’ve added to their line up which isn’t their usual forte it’s awesome they even have any at all :)

[@SaltyTribeCo]

I LOVE LINED PAPER. Lol. It feels lonely in team lined paper 🤪 I just bought two of these and I’m excited to journal in them. Love the tomoe River paper.

[@justinleemiller]

I used lined paper for 20 years of journaling. Then I switched to blank. I will never go back. Everything you fear won't happen.

[@Richard_Barnes]

This is interesting. I don’t have fear, I just write downhill on blank paper and that does my head in. Not to mention the stupid differences in blank space between the lines I write, so yeah, I just can’t get on with it at all.

[@archivist17]

@@Richard_Barnes This is why dot pads are such a revelation for me! All the advantages of blank sheets, but with straight and evenly spaced lines of writing. Maybe I feel it so much because I am a lefthander.

[@Richard_Barnes]

@@archivist17 - I hate them too 😂 I can’t write inside 5mm spacing’s and so I then start crossing dots with my writing, so what’s the point? 👍🏻

[@archivist17]

@@Richard_Barnes Oh well :D

[@jamesaritchie1]

I don't fear anything happening with blank paper. I've used it. I hate it beyond measure. It's not about fear of what might happen, it's about personal taste, and my personal taste simply detests blank paper for journaling. And for anything and everything else except sketching/drawing. I feel the same way about dot grid. When I'm sketching/drawing, I want blank paper. When I'm writing anything I want lined paper.

[@paulll47]

Wish I discovered B6 sizes sooner, I travel a lot for work and I try to get everything in an as compact as possible format, the B6 is small enough to fit a slingbag but big enough to be used as a journal, love it.

[@clarkbilgrav]

The scrap leather is a blotter. And yes, I want lined paper too!

[@anjas3149]

I love their products, too. Using the none-leather A5 version, I figured that having a separate custom made leather sleeve, I only have to pay once, but can use it forever. That's my solution 😀. Dot pad would be my holy grail. Agree that more options are better for customers.

[@meghanjackson7494]

I love my Galen Leather Slim A5 Covers. I do think the product boxes are lovely and help keep the items safe when they’re travelling such a distance (and I store the covers in them when not in use). As a lefty, something like that scrap leather is essential under my hand for fountain pen inks on Tomoe River paper. I would prefer to use that than the scrap paper that I normally use. I haven’t ordered these notebooks, even though I love the paper and the covers and the company, because the pages are blank. I would love to see a dot grid or a Hobonichi/Stalogy-like grid. I’ve had the delayed customs surprise as well, but even with that considered, I think the products still are more affordable than comparable leather goods (and the quality is wonderful too).

[@clarkbilgrav]

I’m with you Meghan. I’m a lefty and do the very same thing. (Although, I’ve started using a small smooth paper towel or shop towel. It lays better on the paper so it doesn’t slide around and smudge my writing, especially on Tomoe River paper.) The leather piece included is a blotter. Enjoy!

[@Katiplans]

Could you correct the name of the video because it is clearly A6 and not B6 so you wouldn’t confuse your viewers.

[@palamajt]

I have one of these A5 non leather ones expected to arrive today. I absolutely hate lined paper for the most part, so I’m thrilled it is blank. But I do think it would be great to have more options for people who want lined, for grid, grid, etc. This will be my first encounter with Tamoe River Paper so I am excited. But I am a bit concerned about the ghosting... hopefully it won’t bug me too much. I would definitely do the 68 gsm if it was an option. Excited to try this out. I liked being able to see your options and makes me feel good about my choices. Thanks.

[@Richard_Barnes]

Kerry I’m confused. To put a Midori Passport TN next to a B6 Galen notebook would not look like that. B6 is a lot bigger than a Passport TN. I still feel like those you have are A6 sized ones. They’re not big enough to be B6. I’ve just fetched my Hobonichi A6 and put it next to my Passport TN and it looked like yours in this video. 😑 Would you please measure those and put my crazy mind at peace? Thank you. 😃 EDIT - at 23:28 you clearly see the book dimensions. You have A6 books Kerry. A6 is 105mm by 148mm.

[@prissscilla9952]

I was gonna ask the same lol b6 or a6? I think it’s definitely an A6

[@PensandTea]

Then they gave me the wrong one lol I just double checked my order and it says b6 🤷🏼‍♀️

[@Richard_Barnes]

@@PensandTea - the thing is Kerry you clearly like them so actually, they are a great little size book. Make sure you get your refund back for the cost though. A6 is cheaper don’t forget. You’ve paid for B6 size 👍🏻🙂

[@thebluebell89]

I am so glad someone else looked at this and asked.... The way to tell, 2 of the little book fit into the larger book. A6 is 1/2 the size of a5.

[@Richard_Barnes]

@@thebluebell89 - agreed, however on the Galen books, the size is printed on the back cover and you can clearly see this is in the video, they are A6.

[@Ecuador86]

I love the blotter to use under my hand on my cosmo air lite paper which makes the ink look funny if my hand touches it. I also love to use it under the grids to make a smoother writing experience, I love it. I do wish they would make a dot grid or grid notebook, so we could ditch the guides. :-)

[@fossilimprint2954]

Thank you for this informative video.

[@PensandPaint]

I agree. I wish that Galen Leather did dot grid and b6 slim size notebooks.

[@inksplat]

I have to say I also didn’t like the blank paper to begin with, but I use one of those midori clip bookmarker (mine is cats & the moon) to hold the guide sheet in place. I also find it very satisfying to flip through the written pages. 😂 thanks for reminding me I want some more of these notebooks lol

[@instrumentosporyparalaescr4992]

estoy totalmente de acuerdo contigo yo tengo un A5 y me gustaría que fuese rayado, aquí en España también tenemos que pagar aduanas después de recibir el paquete. un saludo desde España

[@RBartsy]

Use a big clip that will reach 4-5 inches (with multiple journals you’ll have 2 of the same lined sheets so put one under each side of the open, unused spread) then attach the clip across the top of pages with 1/2 of clip on each side of the gutter. I do it this way to just keep book open and pages from blowing if outside! Can get nice big clips at any art store.

[@smigglesmiggles614]

How does the crazy horse green feel? Does it feel suede like or plastic like?

[@nauci]

...I may have bought 5 of their A5 notebooks when I found out they still use old Tomoe River. I didn't get the leather covers since that felt wasteful, and got two different leather notebook covers from them. I'm so excited for the order to arrive!

[@crystalpiolyn]

Yeeeaassss lined paper!! Stain on the happiness LOL Love that term!

[@MarkJunk]

Great review. I feel better about ordering from them now. Thank you!

[@evaninker8455]

Thanks Kerri and Nice Review. Other than the leather cover, how does Galen Notebooks stack up against Elia Notebooks. Both use Tomoe River 52 gsm paper. Elia 496 pages vs Galen 400 pages and price for Elia is higher at approx US $40. Thanks!!!!

[@sistergoldenhair0727]

I use binder clips to hold the paper. No problem!

[@thuntz29]

You can use a little magnetic 🧲 clip on the top. :)

[@kalemarnica32]

Wow Canada is harsh with customs! In Australia we only have to pay for customs if the order is over $1000 AUD. I always try and order under that limit and on the off chance it’s over, I split the order up. 2 shipping fees is still cheaper than the custom charge lol!

[@Symphing12]

I wonder if nib size affects the show-through? I tend to use a lot of Fines and Mediums so I'd like to try something like a Goulet notebook to try the paper first.

[@JohnGMeadows]

I love my Galen A5, and have the exact same feeling about using the line guide insert; the way it sticks out annoys me. Love it otherwise!

[@sistergoldenhair0727]

I use small binder clips on the edges.

[@eileengoldenberg270]

I am an Urban Sketcher so I would prefer blank. But hey I understand if you are writing you might want lined..

[@jamesaritchie1]

I use a LOT of blank paper for sketching and drawing and watercolor. I can also make notes with blank paper. But for writing, no, not a chance

[@Richard_Barnes]

“..sevend..” 😂 Love it. Thanks for reviewing these. I was asking about them too, even though I have the booklet ones. I just need lines! I can’t cope on blank paper. 😑

[@sistergoldenhair0727]

Use a guide underneath. You don’t often see Tomoe river notebooks with so many pages.

[@Richard_Barnes]

@@sistergoldenhair0727 - nah, not happening. They can print lines on it and stop being so damn lazy! 😂 👍🏻 line guides are only good for the first side. Once you turn over and have all the ink show through and your writing, the line guide becomes ‘lost’ in all of that.

[@sistergoldenhair0727]

@@Richard_Barnes I understand. I use small binder clips on top and bottom edges and it keeps everything straight for me;)

[@maggie5280]

Can you still see the lines on the template when there is writing on the other side of the paper

[@jamesaritchie1]

That's an excellent question.

[@waynehorne2734]

I would like to know this as well? Did you ever get an answer for this? Thanks

[@maggie5280]

@@waynehorne2734 no one answered

[@waynehorne2734]

@@maggie5280 Bummer, thanks. Hopefully someone will respond.

[@waynehorne2734]

@@maggie5280 I can now answer your question because I received my leather notebook a few weeks. The answer is yes you can see the lines. I have been writing and using the guide lines for both sides with no issue.

[@jamesaritchie1]

Pungent leather smell? There is no such thing. There are only three wonderful smells in the world, fresh leather, coffee in a just opened can, and frying bacon. You named the reasons I haven't bought anything from Galen. I truly hate blank paper for any kind of writing. I don't like anything about Tomoe River 52gsm, either. Ghosting as it does is totally unacceptable because I can't use both sides of the paper, which essentially makes the paper twice as expensive, and, to me, spoils the look of the journal. Even Tomoe River 68gsm is a little flimsier and easily damaged that I like, but it doesn't ghost, so I do use it. If Galen sold lined, 68gsm paper, I'd be first in line to buy it because I love everything about the way these journals are made, but the thin, blank paper is a complete deal breaker.

[@tiantuatara]

I generally prefer lined as well, but just bought one of these in the non-leather. An idea for dealing with the guide sliding out on the left side - put a small binder clip at the top of the page, out of the way. It should hold everything together while you write.

[@jamesaritchie1]

My problem is that none of these solutions stops the paper from ghosting. Very heavily at times. I hate being limited in the inks and nibs I'm able to use in a journal. 52gsm simply prevents me from doing this.

[@nauci]

I've been in an endless recorder notebook all month and it still refuses to lay flat 😤😤😤 Giving up on it at the end of the month and switching to a Leuchtturm or Musubi bank notebook instead 🤔 because while $$$ they are very similar to the galen but with a cross grid 🙌

[@MomLawCrafts]

Watching this and paused it to go order 2 A5s lol

[@PensandTea]

Hahahaha awesome

[@SusieDiamond221]

With Galen, it’s like, you’re not one of the cool kids if you don’t have the Galen Leather Journal , the Galen leather pen case, the Galen leather Writing Box, the Galen Leather Memo note holder, the Galen Leather Desk Pen holder, the Galen Leather Picture frame, the Galen Leather key chain. Don’t like being on the trend wagon like everyone else, don’t like the smell or feel of leather, don’t like paying extra for a “name”. But hey, if you do, I get it. I remember kids like you at school.

[@sistergoldenhair0727]

16 minutes before we ever get to see these notebooks? WTF???

[@jamesaritchie1]

You're allowed to skip ahead. It's perfectly legal in most countries. You're also allowed to make your own videos so you won't have to complain about how other people make theirs.

[@sistergoldenhair0727]

Most you tubers are interested in improving themselves, but maybe you are not. Just thought you’d like to know that waiting 15 minutes to actually show what you are talking about is maybe not the best way to go. I’m entitled to my opinion and if you are going to put yourself out there you need to expect some criticism.

[@marilyngardner4269]

I don't buy blank paper--period. Even with guidelines, it doesn't work for me. As for vegans...I don't buy leather products. If Galen wanted to appeal to vegans (and maybe they don't), they would not include the scrap leather with their non-leather journals. My understanding is that even the three-pack of paper journals comes with the scrap leather. Given that, I'm out. Their packaging is aesthetically pleasing, though.

[@Cortesevasive]

lol Karen, if we weren't using those animals, they would become extinct. Why not get a husband and produce babies yourself lol

[@jamesaritchie1]

I buy all the leather I can, and eat all the meat I can find, but I understand your viewpoint. I just wish companies would stop using the moronic description "vegan leather". There is no such thing. It usually just PU leather. Both terms make people think they're buying some kind of real leather. What they're actually buy is polyurethane. If something is made of leather, say so. If it's made from polyurethane, say so. Leather is a heck of a lot better for the environment than most of the things people use to avoid leather, but the least the world could do is be honest in their descriptions.

[@Cortesevasive]

LINED PAPER ?, lol only boomers use lined paper,

[@jamesaritchie1]

Boomers, and all other knowledgeable, intelligent writers. I know an immense number of people in every age group who love lined paper and detest the silliness of dots and grids. Dots and grids are for children.